<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-Doo with a focus on further ramping up bilateral defence cooperation by launching joint production lines for military hardware and key platforms, officials said.</p>.<p>South Korea has been a major supplier of weapons and military equipment to India for the past several years. Last year, the two countries finalised a roadmap for cooperation in joint production of various land and naval systems.</p>.<p>In May, the government announced relaxing foreign direct investment norms in defence manufacturing by allowing 74 percent FDI under the automatic route with a view to attract overseas players in the sector.</p>.<p>The telephonic conversation took place in the midst of a tense border row between India and China. It is not immediately known whether the issue figured in the conversation.</p>.<p>A defence ministry statement said views on the regional developments of shared security interests were also discussed during the telephonic call.</p>.<p>The officials said the two ministers reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further promote defence cooperation between the armed forces.</p>.<p>"It was also agreed to take forward the agreements in the field of defence industry and defence technology cooperation between India and Republic of Korea," the defence ministry said.</p>.<p>Officials said the two sides discussed ways to launch joint production lines for military hardware and key platforms.</p>.<p>The defence ministry said the ministers also discussed issues pertaining to the Covid-19 and agreed to work together to deal with the complex challenges posed by the pandemic.</p>.<p>"Singh informed Jeong Kyeong-Doo on India's contribution to international efforts against Covid-19 and discussed areas of mutual cooperation in the global fight against the pandemic," it said.</p>
<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his South Korean counterpart Jeong Kyeong-Doo with a focus on further ramping up bilateral defence cooperation by launching joint production lines for military hardware and key platforms, officials said.</p>.<p>South Korea has been a major supplier of weapons and military equipment to India for the past several years. Last year, the two countries finalised a roadmap for cooperation in joint production of various land and naval systems.</p>.<p>In May, the government announced relaxing foreign direct investment norms in defence manufacturing by allowing 74 percent FDI under the automatic route with a view to attract overseas players in the sector.</p>.<p>The telephonic conversation took place in the midst of a tense border row between India and China. It is not immediately known whether the issue figured in the conversation.</p>.<p>A defence ministry statement said views on the regional developments of shared security interests were also discussed during the telephonic call.</p>.<p>The officials said the two ministers reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further promote defence cooperation between the armed forces.</p>.<p>"It was also agreed to take forward the agreements in the field of defence industry and defence technology cooperation between India and Republic of Korea," the defence ministry said.</p>.<p>Officials said the two sides discussed ways to launch joint production lines for military hardware and key platforms.</p>.<p>The defence ministry said the ministers also discussed issues pertaining to the Covid-19 and agreed to work together to deal with the complex challenges posed by the pandemic.</p>.<p>"Singh informed Jeong Kyeong-Doo on India's contribution to international efforts against Covid-19 and discussed areas of mutual cooperation in the global fight against the pandemic," it said.</p>